Navy one of 21 Offensive Lines Named To The Joe Moore Award Mid-Season Honor Roll

Mids lead the nation in rushing

Oct. 9, 2017

The Foundation for Teamwork has announced the Mid-Season Honor Roll for the JoeMooreAward, which identifies notable performances by offensive line units in games played through October 7. The OL units from the following universities, with a combined record of 100-19, earned a spot on the Honor Roll (in alphabetical order): Alabama, Auburn, Buffalo, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Navy, North Carolina State, New Mexico, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, San Diego State, SMU, Stanford, TCU, Virginia Tech, Washington, Western Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The JoeMooreAward Mid-Season Honor Roll includes units that display a high level of toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and “finishing”. The Voting Subcommittee uses game film and coach submitted cut-ups on The DragonFly Division I Network as the primary OL Unit evaluation tool. Advanced OL data and statistics are provided by STATS LLC, which helps to support the film evaluation process by highlighting key situations and moments over the course of the season.

“The O-line position is much more technical than some realize. So when we watch the film, we’re looking to see which units not only use good technique, but also for those that display a willingness to compete, finish, and set the tone for their offense,” said Cole Cubelic, who is the current Chairman of the JoeMooreAward Voting Subcommittee, a sideline analyst for the SEC Network and played offensive line for Auburn 1996-2001. “Its early in the season, and it takes a while for units to get going, so we are especially working to identify groups that can do this consistently every game.”

“There’s a good chance there’s not a single OL coach in the country that’s happy with how their Unit is playing. That’s just their nature. But the teams on the Mid-Season Honor Roll caught the attention of the Subcommittee for good reason,” said Aaron Taylor, CBS CFB Analyst and Team Captain of the JoeMooreAward. “As in years past, this award won’t be earned until November, the time when college football matters most. As the season progresses, the bar will be raised along with the stakes, and all of these units have a lot of work to do in order to earn this year’s title of Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in college football.”

The JoeMooreAward Mid-Season Honor Roll for Games Played Through October 7 (in alphabetical order):

- “Alley Fight” - RB’s enjoy a nation leading average of 6.03 yards before contact (YBC) per rush attempt, despite seeing 7+ defenders in the box 82.2% of the time (YBC national avg is 3.14, “7+ Defenders in Box” avg is 56.5%)

Next: @ Oregon on 10/14

TCU (#6, 5-0)

Award Criteria Exemplified: Technique, Effort

- 219.8 rushing yards/game (26th in nation)

- Only allowed 6 sacks this season (T-20th in FBS, T-1 in B12)

- “Clean Pocket” - QB’s enjoy a clean pocket with no OL pressure 84.3% of the time (national avg for Clean Pocket is 75.5%)

Next: @ Kansas St. on 10/14

Virginia Tech (#15, 5-1)

Award Criteria Exemplified: Finishing, Effort

- 178.67 rushing yards/game (56th in FBS, 7th in ACC)

- “Clean Pocket” - QB’s enjoy a clean pocket with no OL pressure 88.5% of the time (national avg for Clean Pocket is 75.5%)

Next: vs. North Carolina on 10/21

Washington (#5, 6-0)

Award Criteria Exemplified: Effort, Finishing, Toughness

- 170.2 rushing yards/game (62nd in FBS, 6th in P12)

- Has allowed 6 sacks this season (T-20th in FBS, 2nd in P12)

- Average 5.2 rush ypc

Next: @ Arizona State on 10/14

Western Michigan (4-2)

Award Criteria Exemplified: Toughness, Effort, Teamwork, Technique

- 236.8 rush ypg (21st in FBS, 1st in MAC)

- Has allowed 8 sacks this season (T-36th FBS, 3rd in MAC)

- Run the ball 61.4% of the time with 7+ defenders in the box 66.7% of the time (national avg is 50.4%)

- “Consistency” - Negative Rush Percentage of 4.9% (less than half of the national avg of 10.5%)

- Has allowed 18 TFL this season (T-6th in FBS, 2nd in B10)

Next: vs. Purdue on 10/14

About the JoeMooreAward

The JOEMOOREAWARD is named after JoeMoore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, and is the only major college football award to honor a unit. The award annually recognizes the nation’s Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit that best displays toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and finishing. The voting committee is comprised solely of people who played or coached the position, including all of the current offensive line coaches at the Division I/FBS level as well as former players, coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore and select media. The JoeMooreAward has been earned by Alabama in 2015 and Iowa in 2016.

About The Foundation for Teamwork

The Foundation for Teamwork is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering the essential aspect of all great societal endeavors: teamwork. Our mission is to bring that spirit of collective achievement not only to sports, but also to schools, organizations, businesses and communities. Find out more at joemooreaward.com. Also follow the JoeMooreAward on Instagram (@joemooreaward), Twitter (@joemooreaward) and Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoeMooreAward.